Confirmation Lights Added to Many Traffic Signals

Blue-colored confirmation lights have been installed on traffic signals at several intersections throughout Ramsey County. These assist law enforcement in reducing crashes caused by motorists driving through red lights. The highly-visible blue lights illuminate when a traffic signal changes to red, allowing a patrol officer to witness a signal violation from many positions and improving enforcement. Right angle crashes at signalized intersections usually involve a motorist violating a red light and these crashes are typically severe with injuries. Ramsey County received a federal safety grant to fund installation of these 128 blue lights at 49 intersections.

Confirmation lights are installed on traffic signals at these locations:

County Road D/37th Avenue from Old Highway 8 to I-35W

Larpenteur Avenue from TH 280 to Hamline Avenue

Silver Lake Road from County Road D/37th Avenue to Rice Creek Road

Lexington Avenue from Larpenteur Avenue to County Road E

Highway 96 from Hamline Avenue to Highway 61

Cleveland Avenue at Roselawn Avenue

Road and Bridge Program

Ramsey County partners with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and local communities to plan, develop and construct road and bridge projects.

The following projects are under development and are listed by construction year:

2015 Proposed Projects

Randolph Avenue (Snelling Avenue to I-35E)

Ramsey County, in cooperation with the City of Saint Paul, will reconstruct Randolph Avenue from Snelling Avenue to I-35E to replace the deteriorating roadway section. The preliminary engineering phase of the project is underway. The project construction will take place over two years. Randolph Avenue reconstruction in 2015 will be between Brimhall Street and Syndicate Street. Randolph Avenue reconstruction in 2016 will be between Syndicate Street and I-35E. CLICK HERE to view the project layout.

The project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015. The street reconstruction will include concrete curb and gutter, storm sewer drains, sanitary sewer and water main repairs, new bituminous pavement, sodded boulevards, lantern style street lighting, and new sidewalks with upgraded pedestrian curb ramps. Randolph Avenue will remain in its current configuration of two travel lanes and two parking lanes.

Ford Parkway (Snelling Avenue to Howell Street)

Ford Parkway is proposed for reconstruction in 2015 from Snelling Avenue to just west of Howell Street. The project is led by Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul is a project partner. The preliminary engineering phase of the project is currently being finalized.

Two public meetings were held October 23, 2013 and February 26, 2014. The meeting in October provided project information and discussed potential layouts for the roadway. CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoint that was presented at the meeting.

Based on feedback from the community and input from the City of St. Paul, a preliminary layout including 7 foot parking lanes, 6 foot bike lanes, 12 foot driving lanes and an 8 foot planted median was created. This lane configuration will increase the road with 1 foot on each side. The existing trees in the boulevard will be minimally impacted and the majority of them will remain. Here is the TYPICAL SECTION and the PRELIMINARY LAYOUT presented at the February meeting. CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoint Presentation from the meeting. Ramsey County will be starting final design based on this layout. Please note: The layout is only a draft and is subject to change. A parking lane variance for the 7 foot parking lanes has been granted by the State's Variance Committee.

The County had considered installing a median through the intersection at Macalester Street. Due to the potential for increased traffic on surrounding streets and the concerns of the community, the median at Macalester will NOT be installed.

Additional improvements to the corridor include new traffic signals at Snelling Avenue and Fairview Avenue along with upgrades to meet ADA standards at all the intersections. Street lighting will be upgraded to meet current City standards. The water main is planned to be replaced. Improvements will also be made to the sanitary sewer and storm sewer.

The City of St. Paul is proposing to assess property owners with frontage along the project corridor for the roadway and street lighting. Any questions or concerns about the proposed assessment for the project should be directed to Dan Haak at the City of St. Paul at 651-266-6084 or dan.haak@ci.stpaul.mn.us

If you have questions and/or concerns relating to the project please contact Erin Laberee, Project Engineer, at the contact information below.

Lexington Avenue (I-694 to County Road F)

Ramsey County, in cooperation with the Cities of Shoreview and Arden Hills, is proposing to reconstruct Lexington Avenue from north of County Road F to I-694. The signal at County Road F will be replaced and turn lanes will be added to provide dedicated right and left turn lanes, including dual left turn lanes north and south bound on Lexington Avenue. Right turn lanes will be added at the ramps to both east and west bound I-694. A multi-use trail will be added on the west side of Lexington Avenue between County Road F and I-694. The project is currently in the final design phase. CLICK HERE to view the layout of the proposed improvements. The County has secured $1 million in Department of Employment and Economic Development funding and $252,212 in MnDOT Cooperative Agreement funding. Appraisals are underway for the right-of-way/easements required to build the project. Construction is scheduled for 2015.

Ramsey County has received federal funds to restripe Larpenteur Avenue from a four-lane road to a three-lane road. The three-lane design includes a 13-foot center left turn lane, an 11-foot through lane in each direction and approximately six-foot shoulders. The traffic signal at Edgerton Street is also planned for replacement as part of the project. The restriping project creates a center left turn lane, which allows vehicles to turn from a dedicated lef turn lane rather than turning from a through lane. (View project layout)

I-35W at Highway 96 Interchange

Ramsey County, in cooperation with MnDOT and the cities of Arden Hills and New Brighton, is leading the design for reconstruction of the Highway 96 interchange at I-35W. Construction will begin in Spring 2015 and is expected to be complete in Fall 2015. Please see the project website or contact the Ramsey County Project Manager for project information:

County Road I/Old Highway 8 Intersection Improvements

Ramsey County is working with FHWA, MnDOT, and the Cities of Arden Hills and Shoreview to improve the intersection of County Road I and Old Highway 8 in anticipation of traffic growth as a result of the TCAAP Site Redevelopment. Improvements include a single-lane roundabout incorporating the on and off ramps east of I-35W, County Road I, Rice Creek Parkway, and Old Highway 8 as well as reconstruction of Old Highway 8 south of County Road I. A layout of the proposed improvements is currently under review by MnDOT and can be viewed HERE.

Please contact the Ramsey County Project Manager for project information:

2016 Proposed Projects

I-35W at County Road H Interchange

Ramsey County, in cooperation with MnDOT and the cities of Arden Hills and Mounds View, is leading the design for reconstruction of the County Road H interchange at I-35W. Improvements include County Road H reconstruction from Old Highway 8 (CSAH 77) to the easterly I-35W ramp terminal as well as the County Road H/TH 10/CSAH 10 intersection. Construction will begin in Spring 2016 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2016. Please see the project website or contact the Ramsey County Project Manager for project information:

TCAAP Spine Road

Ramsey County, in cooperation with the City of Arden Hills, is planning to construct a 4-lane divided arterial roadway to carry anticipated traffic through the TCAAP Redevelopment Site from Highway 96 to County Road H Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2016 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2016.

Please contact the Ramsey County Project Manager for project information:

Randolph Avenue (Syndicate Street to I-35E)

Ramsey County, in cooperation with the City of Saint Paul, will reconstruct Randolph Avenue from Syndicate Street to I-35E to replace the deteriorating roadway section. The preliminary engineering phase of the project is underway. Randolph Avenue reconstruction in 2016 will be between Syndicate Street and I-35E.

The project construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2016. The street reconstruction will include concrete curb and gutter, storm sewer drains, sanitary sewer and water main repairs, new bituminous pavement, sodded boulevards, lantern style street lighting and new sidewalks with upgraded pedestrian curb ramps.

A public meeting was held February 4, 2015 to gather input from the public regarding the proposed improvements. View the meeting notice.

White Bear Avenue (I-94 to Beech Street)

Ramsey County, in cooperation with the City of Saint Paul, will reconstruct White Bear Avenue from I-94 to Beech Street to replace the deteriorating roadway section. The preliminary engineering phase of the project is underway. The project construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2016. The street reconstruction will include concrete curb and gutter, storm sewer drains, sanitary sewer and water main repairs, new bituminous pavement, lantern style street lighting and new sidewalks with upgraded pedestrian curb ramps.

A public meeting was held February 19, 2015 gather input from the public regarding the proposed improvements. View the meeting notice.